The first GDT event for April recorded a small increase of 0.3% which brings the index to US $4,081/t and on par with levels last seen in spring 2014.

Twelve out of the last 14 GDT events have now recorded a positive outcome, which bodes well for dairy markets through the spring flush.

Butter rose by 2%, with cheddar up 2.2%. Skim milk powder rose by 0.6% ,with whole milk powder unchanged.

Meanwhile, DAERA statistics show that farmgate milk prices averaged 29.3p/l during January, up 2.38p/l on the same month last year.

While the NI price is the third highest ever recorded in January, it is still behind the equivalent figure from Britain, where milk prices averaged 29.85p/l.

In total, NI farmers produced 211.03m litres, the highest January total ever.

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